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High yield exfoliation of sub-micron hexagonal boron nitride using a solvent free method.
Diana Santiago1, Maricela Lizcano1, Sean P McDarby2
1NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH, 44135, USA. diana.santiago-dejesus@nasa.gov.
Nanoscale
|November 11, 2024
Summary
Sodium fluoride and other salts effectively exfoliate hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) using a solvent-free method. Sodium chloride proved most effective and cost-efficient for hBN exfoliation, yielding high production rates.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a layered material with unique properties.
- Exfoliation is crucial for unlocking hBN's potential in various applications.
- Current exfoliation methods can be inefficient or require harsh conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of common salts as activation agents for hBN exfoliation.
- To compare the performance of different fluoride and chloride salts.
- To identify a cost-effective and scalable solvent-free exfoliation method.
Main Methods:
- Solvent-free exfoliation of hBN using various salts (NaF, LiF, KF, LiCl, NaCl, KCl).
- Intermediate intercalation enhancement with ferric chloride (FeCl3) up to 330 °C.
- Characterization using X-ray diffraction, SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- All tested fluoride and chloride salts activated FeCl3 intercalation into hBN.
- Sodium chloride (NaCl) demonstrated high effectiveness without additional heat treatment.
- NaCl is the most cost-effective salt for this intercalation and exfoliation process.
- High yields (≥89%) were achieved, indicating suitability for large-scale production.
Conclusions:
- Common salts, particularly NaCl, are effective and economical agents for hBN exfoliation.
- The developed solvent-free method is straightforward and scalable.
- This approach offers a practical route for producing exfoliated hBN for industrial applications.
